Morning Brief: Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Today’s Morning Brief is brought to you by the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA). Get on Board and be part of the movement. Check out Lets-Move.ca to learn more about public transit in Canada.

______________

Red wave sweeps the country — Canada has its first political dynasty — Trudeau credits positive politics, thanks Stephen Harper and Tom Mulcair — 7 things to know about Canada’s next prime minister — 7 Ways Canada’s change of government might affect the world — Who might make cabinet — Conservatives begin campaign post mortem, looking to the future — Harper cabinet ministers, NDP critics: Who lost their seat? — Mulcair vows to fight on with diminished caucus — Elizabeth May a party of one — Gilles Duceppe loses seat — Bloc still below official party status — German MPs ‘drawing up plans’ to close borders in challenge to Merkel’s refugee policy — Korean families divided by war reunite in the North — Baseball and election memes — And finally, what Canada’s new Parliament looks like in Lego Candy.

In a gracious and emotional address, he thanked Stephen Harper and told members of the NDP not to be discouraged, as not too long ago his party had been in the position they find themselves now. Watch the entire victory speech here.

Given the turning of the tide, there was word that Stephen Harper will be stepping down this morning as party leader. Although he didn’t make any mention of that in his speech early this morning, Conservative Party president John Walsh released a statement that Harper had instructed him to reach out to the elected caucus to appoint an interim leader and begin the next leadership selection process. Another statement will be released this morning. “It has been an unbelievable honour to serve as your prime minister,” Harper told a crowd of supporters in Calgary. “While tonight’s result is certainly not the one we had hoped for…the people are never wrong.” He added: “The disappointment you feel is my responsibility and mine alone.” Watch his entire speech here.

Although Elizabeth May is once again a part of a party of one, she was delighted to have won re-election in Saanich-Gulf Islands and to see the Conservatives tossed from power. “Welcome to the first night of the post-Harper era,” she hollered to cheers. She’s also keen to work with the Liberals: ”I called Justin Trudeau and spoke to him and congratulated him on forming government and asked when we can have our first meeting on the climate conference that starts next month.”